The Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) has kicked against the re-emergence of some taxes on their businesses and called on government to remove such taxes on their businesses.They are appealing to the MPs in Parliament to salvage the situation to analyse the issue of taxes in the country and prevent additional taxes on businesses.
They call on government to lessen the tax burden on their business as promised in 2017 and remove all forms of nuisance taxes for businesses to grow.
“The business community in the country has done its best in terms of tax payment. Against all odds and the challenges of 2022, the government was able to exceed its revenue target.Therefore, if the government wants to increase its revenue base, the best way is to adopt innovative means to capture those businesses outside the tax net, review policies on tax exemptions, warehousing, free zones etc. to curtail the abuses, as well as prune down expenditure,” a release issued this evening and signed by the association president Dr Joseph Obeng stated.
The statement added that government continuous attribution of the challenges of the country to the global phenomenon of COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia Ukraine War is no longer tenable.
The association feared if these taxes are not removed their businesses will collapse which will lead to increase in poverty and insecurity in the country.
The association further believes that the relevant effects of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) on businesses is been lost since it is very costly to do business in Ghana.
